Tensho
Tensho (rotating palms)
aka: Rokkishu
A slow and flowing kata utilising breath and movement as one. The open-hand techniques reveal different levels of application, from blocks and strikes at the kihon level to grappling and throws with deeper examination. Some schools use the ibuki breathing for this kata, but we use the more natural breathing method.
History
Tensho was created in the early 1920s by the founder of Goju Ryu, Chojun Miyagi, as a soft counter-balance to the harder Sanchin kata. It may have evolved from the Chinese form Rokkishu, or may be Miyagi's adaptation of his teacher, Higashionna's Kakuha kata. Gichin Funakoshi taught this kata at his Keio University dojo, possibly learning it from Miyagi himself. ~ GE